In this Aug. 9, 2012 photo, patrons play at Willow Springs Water Park in Little Rock, Ark. The Arkansas Department of Health says the water park has closed after officials said the facility was likely the source of a rare and potentially deadly brain infection. (AP Photo/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stephen B. Thornton) ARKANSAS TIMES OUT; ARKANSAS BUSINESS OUT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Department of Health says a Little Rock water park has closed after officials said the facility was likely the source of a rare and potentially deadly brain infection.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Dirk Haselow said Friday that the owners of Willow Springs Water Park voluntarily decided to close the park after meeting with health officials.

Health officials recently confirmed a rare form of meningitis called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (MEN-in-joe-en-SEFF-uh-lie-tis), or PAM, in Arkansas. That condition is caused by an organism commonly found in warm freshwater that can travel up the nose and into the brain.

Health officials say the water park is most likely the source of the recent infection.

The Department of Health says another case of PAM was possibly connected to the park in 2010.